Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-06
BIG oRreor CAVES
Mysterious Caverns Discovered In tho I'm
mediate Vicinity OF Oakland.

. Mysterious Caverns Discovered In the I'm
mediate Vicinity OF Oakland.
For several months past there ha:
been considerable interest in the but
little known Cooper caves. Since the
4 discovery of human bones in these
caves last spring by some adventur-
Gus young men, various parties have
! visited them.
Prompted by desire to ascertain
The truth regarding these caves, their
! exact location. characteristics. sub
terranean construction. etc. the Enter
! prise detailed party, armed with
| torches. rope. extension ladders, com.
pass. and scientific apparatus to prose-
cute thorough search. The search
ing party started for Oakland Sunday
morning at seven o'clock, and after a
pleasant trip through the picturesque
valley. distance of four miles, halt
was ordered. the torches primed,
water secured. etc. From dis point
to within two hundred yards of the
caves is most beautiful though steep
incline. which winds gracefully around
the mountain sides. with overhauging
branches of green laurel. the tall
stately fir and shady oak. This lonely
trail has been called Cave avenue.
Having gained the summit and all
being ready. the torch was lit, ropes
adjusted. and The party began to de-
scend. Having reached the first levei.
a distance of thirty feet, instruments
were compared and the journey began.
After leaving the level for ten feet
large chamber fifteen feet high and six
teen feet 10 &. containing large cavi-
ties. projecting rock. etc.. was found;
narrow passage leads from this to
another chamber ten by five feet, COM
posed of granite format ton. with
hero and there decaying sandstone.
From tho main entrance west one
hundred feet, thence northwest and
north two hundred and fifty feet another
and smaller chamber was found, con-
nectel by a narrow lead southeast to
the ten-foot. AMI another due south to
tho fl ioen-foot chamber back to tho
entrance Some of the lea IL arc ex-
trcmely narrow, and extend down and
in for thousands OF feet Eyiden ccs of
animal aud vegetable life were found
in many places. A species Of bat was
found having no eyes. On the top of
the mountain, which Is largely of sol ID
stone. one ctn strike with stick or
stone. and n sharp. wcll-detined hollow
sound is produced proving beyond
doubt that these caves extend perhaps
for miles into thu bowels of tha earth.
Parts of human skeleton supposed
by many to be that of an Indiana
skull, right and left innominata.
coccyx. n triton Of the vcriebra right
and left femlr, two tibia. one iibula
ono humerus. one radius. two ribs nor
tio1 of ulna phalange'. metacarpal
and metatarsal bones were found on
Sunday, March l3. in tho largest cavity
of the Cooper caves. Those who have
seen thnm say they are upward of one
hundred years old. and if not an In
dian's bones. they are probably those
of some hunter or early settler who lost
his way and sought shelter in these
caves. The parts If skeletons now in
che museum ut tho Umpqua Academy.
IL Is stated, were also found in the
largest cave. which has never been
fully explored
1ha scenery from The top of the
mountain, where the caves are located,
IL grand. From down in yawnino
cbasm thousands of feet below comes
the musical sound of rushing waters.
as tho mad, foaming stream courses its |
way onward. until lost In the recesses
of the distant hills. Here, too. one can |
form an idea of what splendid fan ms |
and cultivated valleys we have in |
Douglas. The secluded valleys, nestled |
among the gigantic mountains, with |
fields of riponing grain swayed by
every passing breeze, the sheep, cattle, |
horses and swine grazing laz ly on
every sward, suggest to our mind all |
nature in holiday attire. -- Odhiand En-
tcrpriSe.